Apparatus for utilizing heat of condensates



May 21, 1935. w, HQFMANQ' 2,001,784

APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING HEAT OF GONDENSATES Filed March 17, 1954 In venfor By Atforn eys I Patented May 21, 1935 .1

PATENT oFFIcE- APPARATUS roa U'rmzmc HEAT or ooNnENsA'ms Wilhelm Hofmann, Bitterteld, Germany, assignor to I. G. Farbenindus'trie Aktiengesellschaft, fiankfort-on-the-Main, Germany Application March In Germany 11, i934, serial No. 716,106

December 12, 1932 3 Claims. (01. zs'z-a This'invention relates to improvements in the utilization of the waste heat of condensates and togparatus to be employed in connection therewl I *In connection with the utilization of the heat available from the condensate'obtained in super-. heated steam installations, it has always been the rule hitherto that the condensate should first be relieved of pressure and then passed into a heat. exchanger, at the temperature corresponding to the resulting reduced pressure. The object of thus initially relieving the pressure is to prevent the occurrence, within, the heat exchanger, of a sudden disengagement of steam iving rise to sudden knocks or shocks which are liable to cause damage to the heat exchanger. On the other hand, this method is attended with the serious drawback that only the lower portion of the temperature drop is utilized for heat exchanging purposes, whereasthe high temperature drop which is the most valuable part as regards heat exchange, is wasted.

The. main object of the present invention is to enable the waste heat of the condensate from heating plants to be substantially completely utilized in aheat exchanger, while avoiding previous release of the pressure. In this manner a more eflicient utilization of the heat of the condensate is brought about, whilst, at the same time, the liquid to behea'ted in the heat exchanger is raised to a higher temperature than hitherto possible.

The invention is based on the'general conception that any substantial release of pressure of the condensate within the heat exchangerwhich is the cause of the sudden disengagement of steam with the ensuing circulation troublesmay be prevented, and the initial high pressure of the condensate thus substantially maintained in the heat exchanger by the the provision of a pressure check device on the exit side of the heat exchanger. In this manner the release of pressure of the condensate is not effected untilit has left the heat exchanger and the troubles heretofore encountered are avoided. According to the invention the said pressure check device is preferably controlled by the level of the condensed liquid in the receiver or tank provided for supplying the heat exchanger with liquid, the device being, for example, actuated directly by a iloat provided in the vessel receiving the condensate. When operating in this manner it is advantageous that the vessel for receiving the condensate issuing from the heat exchanger, the pressure upon which is to be thereupon released,

should be located immediately adjoining the first receiver and separated therefrom merely by a partition. 7

In order more clearly to understand the invention, reference, is made to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates ditically and by way of example, one embodiment of apparatus suitable for carrying the method of the present invention into practical efiect.

In said drawing, which represents an elevation partly in section of the apparatus, the receiver I is shown provided with a closed float Sch, but there is nothing to prevent an open-float type from being used. The condensate firstenters the receiver I, by way of pipeline S1, and issues through pipe line S: into the heat exchanger A,

through which it flows-giving up its heat-fin the direction of the arrow, and passes off in a state of lower temperature, but still under pressure.- It next reaches the receiver II, by way of pipe line S3 and, after the pressure has been released, in passingthrough the control device 0in this case the valve controlled by the float Sch-is allowed to escape into the outside through pipe S4.

The receiver I is separated from the receiver 11 solely by the partition -W, through which passed, axle D of the control device 0 which is actuated by float Sch through lever or rod G. When the flow of condensate decreases, with ensuing lowering of the level of the condensate in the vessel I, the float also sinks and throttles the outflow of condensate from the vessel II, by actuating the shut-off member 0. The pressure in the vessel I is approximately equal to that in the heating plant from which the condensate is derived-.-' The pressure in vessel 11 is only slightly lower, namely by the; amount corresponding to the unavoidable pressure drop of the condensate sustained during its passage through the heat exchanger. Since the diiierence of pressure in the vessels I and II is thus only slight, even in the case of large quantities of condensate, a. simple packing is sufiicient for the rod in its passage through the partition W, no special stufiing box being required.

I claim:

1. A device for the utilization of heat of waste condensates comprising a vessel for receiving the condensate at its initial pressure, a heat. exchanger in, pressure communication with said vessel, 9. pressure check device located at the exit side of the condensate 'from such heat exchanger adapted to reduce the pressure of said conden-' sate, and means for controlling the flow of said condensate through said pressure check device so as to render it commensurate with the supply of condensate to said receiving vessel.

2. A device for the utilization of heat of waste condensates comprising a, vessel for receiving the condensate at its initial pressure, a float in said vessel, a heat exchanger in pressure communication with said vessel, a pressure-check device located at the exit side of the condensate from such heat exchanger and adapted to reduce the pressure or said condensate, means ior'controlling the flow of said condensate through said pressure-check device, said means being actu- 3. A device for the utilization 01' heat of waste condensates comprising a vessel for receiving the condensate at its initial pressure, a float in. said vessel, a heat exchanger in pressure communication with said vessel, a pressure-check device adapted to reduce the pressure 01' said condensate and located at the exit side of the condensate from such heat exchanger and adjacent said receiving vessel, means'for controlling the flow of exchanger commensurate with the supply of condensate to said receiving vessel.

norm/mm. 

